Printed circuit board precursor and method of manufacturing the same and flexible printed circuit board

A printed circuit board precursor comprising:

• a substrate having a surface, wherein the surface is catalytically treated to form a catalytic layer;
• a conductive layer attached to and covering the catalytic layer;
• and
• a metal layer disposed on the conductive layer.

A method of manufacturing flexible printed circuit board comprising:

• providing a substrate;
• catalyzing the surface of the substrate to form a catalytic layer by a catalyst;
• forming a conductive layer attaching to the surface of the catalytic layer;
• electroplating a metal layer on the conductive layer;
• disposing an anti-plating photoresistor on the metal layer;
• exposing and visualizing the photoresistor according to a printed circuit board trace pattern, wherein portions of the photoresistor is removed to expose a portion of the metal layer;
• etching the exposed portion of the metal layer through to the conductive layer and the catalytic layer;
• and
• removing the remaining photoresistor.